Early Beginnings In Mesoamerica The story of chocolate begins in the tropical forests of Mesoamerica, where the cacao tree was first cultivated. Archaeological evidence suggests that the Olmec civilization used cacao as early as 1900 BC. Later, the Maya and Aztec peoples refined its use, preparing cacao beans into a bitter drink often flavored with spices. For the Aztecs, cacao held economic and cultural importance. According to IE Insights, cacao beans were used as currency